Automatic apparatus for continuously winding strip material



March 4, 1969 M. EBNETER 3,

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY WINDING STRIP MATERIAL Filed June 25, 1967 Sheet (m2 FIG. 2

MAQm/s EENEI'EP A TTORMEXS' March 4, 1969 M. EBNETER 3,430,831

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY WINDING STRIP MATERIAL Filed June 2:5, 1967 Sheet 2 of 2 INVENTOR.

MAP/(U5 EBA/762 A TTOENEXS United States Patent 3,430,881 AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY WINDING STRIP MATERIAL Markus Ebneter, Saint Gall, Switzerland, assignor t0 Ferd. Ruesch, Maschinenfabrik, Saint Gall, Switzerland Filed June 23, 1967, Ser. No. 648,423 US. Cl. 242-56 Claims Int. Cl. B65h 19/20, 75/34, 51/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An automatic apparatus for continuously winding strip material on cores positioned on spindles where the spindles are positively secured in winding position on a rotatable drum during the winding operation. The rotatable drum is arranged for stepwise movement of the spindles into and out of the winding position. The drum contains a plurality of pairs of support members for holding the spindles. Each pair of support members is provided with a locking device which secures the spindle in place during the winding operation. At the end of the winding operation a lever disengages the locking device and releases the spindle from the winding position. The fully wound spindle is then transported by an endless belt means to a storage point. Each pair of support members is provided with means for rotating the spindle in the winding position, comprising a driving gear and a driven gear which are maintained in meshed relationship. The endless belt means for transporting spindles into and out of the winding position has spindle carrying members which have the same spacing as the support members on the drum. The apparatus also contains a cutting device which can be moved into and out of cutting position and a movable device for selectively applying or removing adhesive from the strip material being wound. By laterally reversing the positions of the cutting device and the device for applying a removing adhesive and by reversing the direction of the rotation of the spindle, the previously outwardly directed surface of the strip material can be directed inwardly as it is wound.

Summary of the invention The present invention is directed to an apparatus for winding strip material on a core positioned on a spindle and, more particularly, to an arrangement for positively holding the spindles in position during the winding operation.

In the copending application of the present inventor Ser. No. 580,718, filed Sept. 20, 1966, for a Fully Automatic Reel Changer there is shown a device for winding strip material of predetermined lengths on cores. In the copending application winding spindles and cores for the strip material pass from a storage magazine onto a rotatable drum having spaced spindle supports. The winding spindles are held in a slot-like opening in the spindle supports, but they are not securely locked in place against movement during the winding operation, rather they remain in position by virtue of their own weight. The drum carries a driven gear which rotates the spindle by means of a driving gear mounted on the axis of the drum, and as the drum is rotated, the driven and driving gears become disengaged. Additionally, the strip winding apparatus is provided with a cutting member for severing the strip material when the roll has been completed and also with a device for selectively gluing the strip material.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to supply an arrangement for positively holding a winding spindle in position while strip material is being wound on it to a predetermined length.

Another object of the invention is to provide gear mem- 3,430,881 Patented Mar. 4, 1969 bers for driving the winding spindle wherein the possibility of slippage or wear between the gear members is reduced or eliminated.

Still another object of the invention is to afford a disengageable holding arrangement for the winding spindle, which can be released at the end of the winding operation.

A further object of the invention is to furnish an arrangement for reversing the direction of rotation of the winding spindle so that the surfaces of the strip material, as wound, can be reversed.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a continuous automatic operation wherein the spindles are moved into winding position, a complete roll of strip material is wound on the spindles, and the roll is removed from winding position as another spindle is inserted.

Moreover, a further object of the invention is to provide a continuously operating strip winding apparatus which obviates the problems in the prior art and provides a simple and compact apparatus for performing the operation.

Therefore, the present invention provides an apparatus for continuously winding strip material on a core positioned on a winding spindle, for moving empty cores into a winding position and for removing fully wound cores from the winding position, comprising a rotatable support element having support members which securely hold the spindles during the winding operation. The spindle support means comprises a pair of spaced support members, one member having a section which engages one end of the spindle and the other member end having a locking means for hold the spindle in place. Associated with the support member having the locking means is a gear assembly for rotating the spindle. The gears remain in engagement throughout the operation of the apparatus. An endless transport belt setup having spindle carrying members is utilized to pick up the empty winding spindles and place them into winding position on the rotatable support element, and when a complete roll of strip material has been wound on the spindle, to remove the spindles from the support element. Both the rotatable support element and the transport belt are arranged for stepwise movement during the winding operation.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a transverse view, partly in section, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment 3 belt or chain 4 supporting spaced spindle holders 5 rides over a chain wheel 6. The chains 4 are disposed in a triangular-like shape with the chain wheel 6 on the drum located at the apex and the chain wheels C and D shown dotted in FIG. 1 forming the lower corners.

End wall 1a of the drum has a flange 7 connected to a rotating shaft 20. Mounted on the shaft 20 and separately rotatable about it is a gear wheel 8 which is driven by a gear wheel 22 mounted on another rotatable shaft 21. The driving gear wheel 8 is in constant engagement with a number of driven gear wheels 9, each positioned at one of the spindle bearings 2. Located at each of the bearings 2 on the end walls 1a is a friction coupling flange housing 13 having a coupling portion or socket 13a for receiving one end of a winding spindle 3. Centrally disposed within the housing 13 is a spring 12 which biases the socket 13a onto the end of the spindle 3. At the outer end of the housing 13, a lever 11 maintains the spring 12 in engagement with the holding member 13a so that, during the winding operation, the spindle is held securely in place. At the end of each winding cycle cam 10 depresses the lever 11 which retracts the spring 12 and releases the holding member 13 from locking engagement on the end of the winding spindle. With the spring retracted the spindle is free to be moved from the winding position on the drum 1. The cam 10 is ring-shaped (not shown in the drawings) and is disposed perpendicularly to the axis of the drum. Because of its configuration, the cam 10 provides the desired function for depressing the lever when the winding cycle has been completed. On the opposite end wall 1b the bearings 2 have a tapered section 2a which fits into an axially arranged opening in the spindle 3. The action of the spring 12 forces the spindle onto the tapered-section 2a.

Positioned adjacent the end wall 1b of the drum 1 is a frame member 24 which supports a cutting assembly 26 located above the drum and a gluing assembly 28 located within the drum. The cutting assembly has a horizontally extending arm 27 supporting a cutting bar 14. Mounted on the lower end of the cutting bar 14 is a blade 16 and a pressure plate 17. During normal winding operation, the cutting assembly 26 is situated in its idle position above the drum 1, as shown in FIG. 1, and it moves downwardly, as shown in FIG. 2, into its operative position to cut the strip material wound onto the core 3a. The gluing assembly comprises a horizontal support member 30 extending from the frame member 24 into the interior of the drum and a brush mounted on its upper surface. The member 30 is movable between a lower idle position (see FIG. 1) and an upper position where it can contact strip material being wound. The brush 15 is employed to apply either an adhesive material such as glue or a material which neutralizes or removes an adhesive material on the strip material.

The positions of the cutting assembly 26 and the gluing assembly 28 can be changed laterally on the frame 24 to accommodate a reversal of the winding direction of the strip material.

In operation, as viewed in FIG. 1, the belt 4 moves clockwise and in a stepwise manner, picking up empty spindles 3 with its holders 5 as it rides over the chain wheels 6, C and D. The chain 4 travels in an upward direction toward winding position A on the drum. The stepwise movement of the drum 1 and the belt 4 are coordinated so that as the holders 5 carrying a spindle 3 move upwardly, the spindle is engaged by the spindle bearings 2 on the drum. At one end the coupling socket 13a of the housing 13 fits over the spindle and is held securely on the spindle by the spring 12. In addition, the biasing action of the spring 12 forces the opposite end of the spindle onto the tapered section 2a of the bearing. The spindle 3 is rotated by the gear wheel 9 mounted on the housing 13 for winding a predetermined amount of strip material on the core 3a.

At the end of the winding operation as a fully wound spindle 3 moves from position A to position B, the cutting and gluing assemblies 26 move synchronously on the frame 24 from their idle to their operative positions. After the fully wound core has passed under the cutting assembly, the blade completes its downward motion severing the strip material as shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 1 the dash-dot line extending between guide roller 42 and position B indicates the disposition of the strip material 40 immediately before the cutting step takes place. After it is cut, the end of the strip material to the right of the blade 16, as viewed in FIG. 2, is given an application of glue by the brush 15 so that the trailing end will adhere to the fully covered core. At the same time the end of the strip material to the left of the blade is urged against the empty core 3a, by the pressure plate 17, the core may have a coating of glue for securing the end of the strip material thereon.

As each winding operation is completed, the means for rotating the drum and for moving the transport belt 4 are activated. Means well known in the art can be used to drive both of these members. When a fully wound core is moved from position A to position B, another empty empty core is moved into position A to repeat the winding operation. As another winding operation is instituted, the cutting and gluing assemblies are retracted into their idle positions.

In preparation for the movement of a fully wound core from position A to position B, the cam 10 de* presses the lever 11 which releases the spring 12 from the socket 13a so that the winding spindle is released from the flange housing 13 and from the tapered section 2a at its opposite end. The winding spindle 3 then is carried only by the holders 5 on the belt and moves downwardly, in the stepwise movement on the transport belt, to a point where the fully wound rolls are removed.

In the above winding operation, the strip material 40 passes over the guide roller 42 as it travels to position A and the upper surface 40a of the strip material is wound facing outwardly on the winding spindle 3. If it is desired to have the upper surface 40a facing inwardly, this can be accomplished by reversing the rotational motion of the winding spindle and by moving the cutting assembly 26 to the right of the gluing assembly 28 as it appears in FIG. 2. The cam, which releases the socket 13a from the end of the spindle 3, need not be changed since it is symmetrically shaped to provide the releasing action regardless of the direction in which the spindle 3 is rotated.

It is also possible to position the gluing assembly 28 in contact with the strip material as it is wound so that instead of applying an adhesive substance another substance is applied to remove an adhesive material already on the strip.

As compared to the earlier mentioned copending patent application No. 580,718, the present invention has a number of substantial advantages. Initially, the bearings 2 on the drum 1, which hold the winding spindles in place, provide a positive holding action due to the spring actuated coupling flange housing 13. At the opposite end of the spindle bearing, the tapered member 2A of the bearing 2 properly centers the spindle for the winding operation. Because of the manner in which the winding spindle 3 is centered and held in position, a more uniform winding is obtained on its core 3a. Moreover, in the present arrangement the gear wheels 9 mounted on the housing 13 are in continuous engagement with the gear wheel 8, as a result there is no problem of wear due to intermittent engagement and disengagement of the gear wheels. By avoiding such wear, the rotation of the spindle can be closely regulated to assure uniform winding of the strip material.

Additionally, the magazines required in the above application are no longer necessary, because the empty winding spindles 3 are picked up by the holders 5 in the transport belt 4 and carried into the winding position A on the drum and then they are removed from the position B after the completion of the Winding operation.

A further advantage of the operation is the manner in which the winding operation can be reversed to change the side of the strip material directed outwardly on the wound core.

While a specific embodiment of the invention been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for continuously winding strip material comprising a rotatable member arranged to receive a predetermined length of strip material wound thereon, a support element having a winding position thereon, bearing means arranged on said support element for receiving said rotatable member, a securing device associated with said bearing means for positively holding said rotatable member in said bearing means, means associated with said bearing means for winding strip material on said rotatable member, means for disengaging said securing device whereby said rotatable member is released from said bearing means, transport means for movement of said rotatable member into and out of winding position on said support element; said bearing means comprising a first bearing member having a section arranged to engage one end of said rotatable member and a second support member for holding the opposite end of said rotatable member in locking engagement; said section of said first support member comprising a tapered member for engaging one end of said rotatable member and said second support member having a socket section for receiving the other end of said rotatable member; and a spring member positioned within said second support member for forcing said socket section into engagement with the end of said rotatable member; said means for disengaging said securing device comprising a lever operatively connected to said spring member, and a cam member associated with said lever for moving said lever and retracting said spring member whereby said socket section is disengaged from the end of said rotatable member.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said support element comprises a horizontally disposed rotatable drum arranged for stepwise angular displacement through equal angular distances.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein a plurality of pairs of first and second support members are spaced at equal angular distances on the outer periphery of said drum.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said driving means for winding strip material on said member comprises a driven gear mounted on one of said first and second support members and a driving gear in continuous meshed contact with said driven gears.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said transport means comprises an endless carrying device for transferring empty winding spindles into winding position on said support element and for removing fully wound spindles from said support element.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said endless carrying device contains a number of carrying members for said spindles in spaced relationship corresponding to the angular spacing of said support members on said rotatable drum.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein a cutting device is disposed in associated with said rotatable drum having an idle position spaced from said drum and a cutting position located at the periphery of said drum.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein a device, associated with said drum and having an idle position and an applying position, is provided for applying a material to the strip material being wound on said winding spindle for alternatively selectively applying and removing an adhesive material when said device is in its applying positon.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein means are provided for synchronously moving said cutting device into its cutting position and said applying device into its applying position and for returning said devices to their idle positions.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein means are provided for reversing the rotational direction of said driving means used for winding said spindle and for laterally reversing the position of said cutting device and said applying device whereby the outwardly facing surface of said strip material as applied to said spindle is reversed.

References Cited LEONARD D. CHRISTIAN, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

